CLIFF-GRADS awardees 2021
We are excited to announce that 57 PhD candidates from 20 developing countries will receive scholarships in Round 4 of the Climate, Food and Farming – Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Development Scholarships programme (CLIFF-GRADS).
Increasing interest in the CLIFF-GRADS Programme has seen the number of recipients in this scholarship Round double after hundreds of applications were received.
The full list of awardees, their research projects and the 34 host institutes that they will be hosted by can be found below.
CLIFF-GRADS offers short research visits of up to 6 months providing opportunities for early-career scientists to gain exposure to equipment, software and expertise that they would not otherwise have access to at their home institute.
During their research visit CLIFF-GRADS recipients will research rumen microbiology, rice production, soil emissions, and pasture management, among other topics.
We’d especially like to acknowledge the support of fellow GRA country members and international partners, particularly CCAFS, for supporting these technical training opportunities for students.
The Round 4 awardees are:
Keep an eye out for further information about the awardees coming soon.
Listed by Name, Nationality, Host Organisation and Project Topic
| Abdoulaye Tyano, Burkina Faso* National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Spain Agricultural management’s potential effect on soil carbon sequestration at national level *Reallocated to a Round 6 project in 2023-2024. For updated project information, go to R6 announcement. |
| Abdulkareem Raheem, Nigeria International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Thailand Evaluation of field measurements, focussing on the impact of rice varieties on greenhouse gas emissions in combination with advanced mitigation technologies |
| Abera Assefa Biratu, Ethiopia Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Ethiopia Modelling and predicting SOC sequestration potentials of Sustainable Land Management Program (SLMP) watersheds in Ethiopia |
| Addis Tadesse Tekle, Ethiopia Columbia University, USA Modelling adaptation co-benefits of mitigation in regional farming systems |
| Adnan Arshad, Pakistan Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit, USDA-ARS, USA Greenhouse gas emissions from dryland cropping systems under two tillage and crop rotations |
| Ahmed Olanrewaju Aliyu, Nigeria Bangor University, Wales, UK Greenhouse gas mitigation from dairy and beef systems across a development gradient |
| Alex Zizinga, Uganda Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya Increasing farm productivity and carbon sinks on sandy soils |
| Ana Veronica Juarez Sequeira, Argentina National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Chile Directed evolution of rumen microbial cultures towards the identification and stimulation of electron sinks alternative to methanogenesis |
| Anabella Lozza, Argentina La Molina National Agrarian University, Peru Quantification of enteric methane (CH4) emissions and carbon footprint of silvopastoral systems in the Peruvian Amazon Region |
| Andrés García, Argentina Veterinary Institute for Tropical and Altitude Research (IVITA), Peru Defining the most fit dairy cattle genetics for high altitude Andean small-holder systems: Determining feed energy partitioning to methane (CH4), stress response, energy expenditure and their ratios to milk energy |
| Armwell Shumba, Zimbabwe National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture through the use of alternative fertilizers |
| Azamat Suleymanov, Russia ISRIC, World Soil Information, Netherlands Improved soil carbon mapping in sub-Saharan Africa to support soil fertility and climate mitigation studies |
| Beatriz Elisa Bizzuti, Brazil National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina Energy use efficiency of dairy cows fed by-products in early lactation |
| Beshea Abdissa Chemeda, Ethiopia Mekelle University, Ethiopia Improving productivity and adaptive capacity of coffee-based agroforestry systems for enhancing food security in a changing climate in Ethiopia |
| Boma Victor Iriso, Nigeria National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Chile Effects of inhibiting methanogenesis on propionate production in the rumen |
| Catriel Mateo Espinosa, Argentina Massey University, New Zealand Assessment of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate leaching in pasture soils modified with the addition of woodchips |
| Der Dabire, Burkina Faso French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), France Co-design and dissemination of options to mitigate the impact of livestock on Climate Change |
| Endale Balcha Gurmu, Ethiopia National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Chile Directed evolution of rumen microbial cultures towards the identification and stimulation of electron sinks alternative to methanogenesis |
| Eyerus Muleta Fatula, Ethiopia National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Uruguay Development of nitrogen-urea-milk content as an indicator of temporal and spatial distribution of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions |
| Flavia Yesica Olguin, Argentina Jimma University, Ethiopia Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from coffee production systems through shade management |
| Florence Akwatulira, Uganda University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK Soil organic carbon sequestration potential for different management options in silvopastoral ecosystems in Latin America |
| Fredrick Agutu, Kenya Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kenya Feed gaps and associated greenhouse gas emission intensities of smallholder dairy systems in Tanzania and Rwanda |
| Funmilola Adebisi Oluwafemi, Nigeria Hawassa University, Ethiopia Application of biochar and co-composted biochar from urban, agricultural and agro-industrial processing organic wastes: promising tool for climate smart agriculture Project report here |
| Habtamu Degefa Debelie, Ethiopia Research Center for the Management of Environmental and Agricultural Risks (CEIGRAM), Spain Greenhouse gas emissions from extensive livestock systems under Mediterranean conditions: On-site nitrous oxide (N2O) quantification and carbon budget estimations by LCA |
| Haftay Hailu Gebremedhn, Ethiopia French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), France Co-design and dissemination of options to mitigate the impact of livestock on Climate Change livestock |
| Janeth Chepkemoi, Kenya Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kenya Assessing the soil organic carbon sequestration potential of planted forages in Rwanda and Kenya |
| Josias Steve Adjassin, Benin Natural Research Institute Finland (Luke), Finland Quantifying methane (CH4) conversion rate (Ym) from Finnish lactating dairy cows |
| Juan Pablo Inamagua Uyaguari, Ecuador La Molina National Agrarian University, Peru Quantification of enteric methane (CH4) emissions and carbon footprint of silvopastoral systems in the Peruvian Amazon Region |
| Kpante Koutando, Togo Climate and Agriculture Group, Agroscope, Switzerland Nitrous oxide (N2O) mitigation from agriculturally managed organic soils |
| Laure Lysette Chimi Nkombo, Cameroon Massey University, New Zealand Assessment of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate leaching in pasture soils modified with the addition of woodchips |
| Leonardo Fernandes Sarkis, Brazil Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit, USDA-ARS, USA Greenhouse gas emissions from dryland cropping systems under two tillage and crop rotations |
| Luis Antonio Milesi Delaye, Argentina Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit, USDA-ARS, USA Using a tier II model (CQESTR) to predict soil organic carbon storage and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
| Lumena Souza Takahashi, Brazil National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA); National Technological University, Argentina Mitigation strategies to decrease methane (CH4) emissions of Argentina pastoral livestock systems |
| Maduabuchi Iboko, Nigeria International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines Greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in diversified rice systems |
| Manuel Camilo Valencia Molina, Colombia Salta Experimental Station, National Institute of Agricultural Technology (EEA Salta INTA), Argentina Nitrogen management to mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in sugarcane |
| Maxwell Adebayo Adeyemi, Nigeria National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina Greenhouse gas emission mitigation options for different productive strategies in dairy production systems of Argentina |
| Merabtene Mohammed Djemel Elddine, Algeria Bangor University, Wales, UK Managing nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) through improved agricultural liming practices |
| Meseret Teweldebrihan, Ethiopia Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Ethiopia Modelling and predicting SOC sequestration potentials of Sustainable Land Management Program (SLMP) watersheds in Ethiopia |
| Moyosore Joseph Adegbeye, Nigeria Agrosavia, Colombia Validation of active principles from trees and shrubs implemented as an integrated strategy to rumen ecosystem and its eco-systemic services in Cundinamarca-Colombia dairy systems |
| Nelly Blondelle Momo Wobeng, Cameroon Soils and Ecosystems Research Group, Bangor University, Wales, UK Managing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from small-scale farm features |
| Paula Re, Argentina Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain Combining mitigation strategies to enhance soil carbon sequestration without compromising yields in Mediterranean woody cropping systems |
| Priscila Matos, Brazil Embrapa Rice and Beans, Brazil Technologies and practices to increase carbon sequestration in integrated crop-livestock system on humid tropical Savannah |
| Rafael Jiménez Ocampo, Mexico Alliance of Bioversity International – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Colombia Effects of essential oils on rumen fermentation, microbial diversity in the rumen and methane (CH4) emissions in tropical systems |
| Rayanne Viana Costa, Brazil Queens University, Northern Ireland, UK Evaluating innovative strategies for ruminant methane (CH4) abatement |
| Rui Zhao, China National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Spain Agricultural management’s potential effect on soil carbon sequestration at national level |
| Sandra Patricia Loaiza Mera, Colombia University of California, Davis, USA Methane (CH4) mitigation in rice systems – from field research to supply chain initiatives |
| Solomon Ayele, Ethiopia Veterinary Institute for Tropical and Altitude Research (IVITA), Peru Defining the most fit dairy cattle genetics for high altitude Andean small-holder systems: Reducing methane (CH4) emission intensity by efficient feeding and rumen function management |
| Stephan van der Westhuizen, South Africa ISRIC, World Soil Information, Netherlands Advances in global mapping of soil carbon sequestration potential and links with drought conditions |
| Susan Nguku, Kenya National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Chile Effect of legumes on reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3) losses following application of faeces and urine to soil from cows fed with legume diet |
| Tajamul Hussain, Pakistan Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit, USDA-ARS, USA Using a tier II model (CQESTR) to predict soil organic carbon storage and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
| Thiago Pinto, Brazil Ecology Department, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden Bayesian estimation of greenhouse gas emissions and SOC stocks from man-managed systems through application of first-order compartimental decomposition models |
| Tulasi Prasad Paudel, Nepal* Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Cameroon Modelling greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farms *Reallocated to a Round 6 project in 2023-2024. For updated project information, go to R6 announcement. |
| Valeria Esther Alvarez, Argentina Bangor University, Wales, UK What is the contribution of microbial necromass to soil carbon storage? |
| Wadson de Menezes Santos, Brazil Soil and Water Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, USA Improved quantification and modelling of nitrogen transformation and loss pathways in ‘hot spots’ following urine deposition and fertilizer application |
| Winnie Ntinyari, Kenya Bangor University, Wales, UK Managing nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) through improved agricultural liming practices |
| Yericho Berhanu Meshesha, Ethiopia Jimma University, Ethiopia Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from coffee production systems through shade management |
About CLIFF-GRADS: CLIFF-GRADS is a joint initiative of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) low emissions development flagship. CLIFF-GRADS aims to build the capability of early career agricultural students in developing countries to conduct applied research on climate change mitigation in agriculture. Funding is provided by the New Zealand Government, the CGIAR Trust Fund and bilateral agreements in support of CCAFS.